Language/Egyptian-arabic/Vocabulary/Getting-Around
As a language teacher, I believe that learning how to ask for directions and navigate public transportation is crucial when traveling to a new country. In this lesson, we will go over some essential Egyptian Arabic vocabulary and phrases to help you get around Egypt with ease.
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Days of the Week & Birthday.
Transportation
Public Transportation
In Egypt, there are several modes of public transportation such as buses, minibusses, and taxis. Here are some useful phrases to use when asking for directions:
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| أنا بدور على المواصلات العامة | ana budur 3ala l-muwaSSalaat el-3aamma | I'm looking for public transportation |
| وين المواصلات؟ | wein el-muwaSSalaat? | Where is the public transportation? |
| كام السعر؟ | kam el-s3ar? | How much does it cost? |
| الأقرب لـ... | el-2aqrab le... | The closest to... |
| إلى فين؟ | ela fein? | Where does this go? |
Taxis
Taxis are readily available in Egypt, especially in urban areas. Here are some phrases that will come in handy when taking a taxi:
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| عاوز تاكسي | 3awz taxi | I want a taxi |
| روحني لـ... | roHHeni le... | Take me to... |
| بطل على طريق/شارع... | batil 3ala Tari2/Shari3... | Stop on the road/street... |
| بعد كام؟ | ba3d kam? | How far is it? |
| هنا وصلنا؟ | hena waSlna? | Have we arrived here? |
Driving
If you plan to rent a car and drive in Egypt, you should be aware that traffic can be chaotic, and the roads can be challenging to navigate. Here are some phrases that will help you on your driving journey:
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| يمين | yamin | right |
| شمال | shimal | left |
| مستقيم | mustaqiim | straight ahead |
| أنا ضايع | ana Daay3 | I'm lost |
| ممكن تساعدني؟ | momken tesa3edni? | Can you help me? |
Directions
Here are some useful phrases to use when asking for directions:
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| فين البنك؟ | fein el-bank? | Where is the bank? |
| إلى فين؟ | ela fein? | Where does this go? |
| عاوزني أروح فين؟ | 3awzni aruuH fein? | Where do you want me to go? |
| سمعت إن... | sama3t en... | I heard that... |
| شوفت حاجة زي كده قبل كده؟ | shoft 7aga zay keda 2abl keda? | Did you see something like this before? |
Conclusion
I hope you found this lesson helpful in preparing for your trip to Egypt. Don't be afraid to practice these phrases with native speakers and explore the country with confidence!
Sources
Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Geography & Means of Transport.
Other Lessons
- Greetings
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Resources
- Introducing Yourself and Others
- Days, Months, and Seasons
- At Home
- Education
- How to Say Good Bye
- Body